[ the last of Mom's peonies ]
The summer is rushing forward with a momentum all its own.
A weekend trip at Mom's, full of it's own happenings, merging seamlessly with a visit from my niece. Meanwhile I have yet to sift through school work folders or do anything with the piles of books and uniforms set aside that we won't be needing for months, if at all.
I've already layered suntan on top of a rookie-style burn from last week. These two trips to the local beach mark the weeks of the season accordingly. And in a fashion very unlike me, sunsets over the monuments and dinosaur skeletons remain captive on my memory card. Weeds are overtaking the produce in my garden. It's as busy a summer as I can remember, and we're loving each minute as it sweeps by.
One small thing we did on the weekend at Mom's was visit an old junk shop for it's going out of business sale where I found (among other things) some adorable children's books.
I'm in love with the vintage illustration and verse, and if considered vintage (and they are) then surely so am I as the publishing date happens to be my birth year.
Pictured are some of the pages featuring summer from 'Just Around the Corner' by Leland Jacobs, illustration by John E. Johnson. Click image to enlarge.
Here's an excerpt:
Night Song
When the sun has set and night has come,
The insect chorus starts to hum.
And nothing else is there to hear,
but the insect voices soft and clear.
The insects hum in sweet delight,
singing their praises of the night.
I adore this book and its innocent poems about the changing seasons. I could write an entire post about how children's books have changed. For example, this was considered a text for 2nd graders, and while my own 2nd (now going on 3rd) grader might give it a curious glance, it would never win her attention over the fifth Harry Potter book.
Clear and clever vintage children's books are such an inspiration to me lately. I'll see if I can share the other books soon.
